Thursday, February 1, 2018

Running Toward Illumia - YA Fantasy

Hi, I’m Angel Leya,
and I write clean young adult stories with (at least) a touch of magic and
romance. My latest story is Running
Toward Illumia, Astrea’s tale of finding herself while running from the one
thing she wants most: To find her sense of belonging.

Astrea’s lived in the Mist all her life, and she loves it
there. In fact, she’d do just about anything to feel like she fits in with her
Rudan people, even hunt a unicorn to feed her starving tribe.

Illumia is the first city beyond the Mist, just past the
Dragon Range. Astrea’s come up with 10 reasons to never go to Illumia. I’ll let
her tell you more.

***

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Travel to Illumia

10. They don’t have fog.

Who needs sunshine? I’m a Mist girl. Great for concealing
movement, comfortable like an old blanket, and you never have to worry about
dry skin.

9. They don’t all have red hair.

That’s why this tribe is here, despite being sent to the fog
to die. And why we call ourselves the Rudan, rather than the Banned.

Wish my hair was redder. And I could use a few more
freckles. But I’m one of the Rudan, I swear. I’d be dead if I wasn’t.

8. They’re weak.

Fog weeds out the weak. And if the fog doesn’t, the Lynx,
ogres, or Rudan will. Illumians live the easy life. They have no reason to be
strong.

7. They’re not very welcoming.

The Rudan take in anyone who can survive the fog. Illumians
kicked us out (or at least my parents, but children of the Banned are no less
welcome).

6. Illumians are idiots.

Everyone says so.

5. Big government.

I know all five of my council members, and they earned their
spot. Like Seneca, first huntress—my mentor. Illumians probably have no idea
who runs their council.

4. The journey’s dangerous.

Even if you can navigate the fog, streams filled with
flesh-eating fish, and ogre-infested swamps, there’s the dragon range. There’s
one pass, guarded by Illumians. The rest is mountain. Treacherous, dragon-housing
mountains. No other way around it. Going to Illumia is a fool’s errand.

3. My family’s not there.

If you think getting one person into Illumia is hard, try
five. Two brothers, plus Mamaa and Pawpaw.

Course, the whole tribe’s basically family. I’d want to take
them all.

Except maybe Mavin. He’s a jerk. (Kidding. Sort of.)

2. I can never come back.

Going to Illumia is a one-way trip. Illumians and dragons
ensure that.